Louis wieser



(No Model.)

L. WIESER ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MAOHINES.

No. 562,873. Patented June 30, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS \YIESER, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,873, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed October 20, 1894. Serial No. 526,463. (No model.)

To 6422? whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS WIESER, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'ashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachment-s for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to attachments for sewing-machine tables; and it has for its object to provide an attachment of this character that is adapted to be conveniently arranged at the under side of the sewing-machine table, so that the same can be readily moved out in front of the edge of the table for use and also withdrawn entirely under the table out of the way of the operator when not in use.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character noted, which forms a clamping device adapted to support or grip one end or other portion of the material upon which it is desired to perform some operation by the sewing-machine, such as basting and the like, thereby providing means for leaving both hands of the operator free to manipulate the material.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination,

.and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of an ordinary sewing-machine equipped with the herein-described attachment. Fig. 2 is a top view of the attachment detached from the sewing-1nacl1ine table. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, the clamping-jaws being illustrated as lying entirely within the bounding-lines of the base-plate. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the attachment, partly in section, showing the jaws moved beyond one end of the baseplate in a position for receiving and clamping the material therebetween. Fig. 5 is a side edge view of the attachment. Fig. 6 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow :2, Fig. 4:.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the table of an 0'rdi nary machine, supporting thereon the usual mechanism A; but since the attachment is designed solely for use in connection with the table of a sewing-machine it is unimportant as to the particular kind of mechanism supported on said table.

The attachment contemplated by the invention is adapted to be arranged below the table A, so that the clamping parts of the attachment can be readily projected beyond the front edge of the table or be moved back of the front edge of and entirely under the table,

so as to be out of the way when not in use. To provide for securing the attachment in this position, the same is provided with a fiat metal base-plate B, properly secured in position by screws or other fastenings passed through the screw-holes Z) at the corners of the plate and engaging in the table, so as to firmly and removably support the said baseplate in position.

The base-plate 13 supports for a sliding movement on the under side of the same the sliding clamp-plate 0, provided with a pair of longitudinally disposed and aligned slots 0, which receive the screws or rivets c, which pass into the base-plate B, and provide means for supporting the sliding clamp-plate for a sliding movement, so that the same can be adjusted ina longitudinal direction, and also serve as stops to limit the inward and out ward adjustment of the said plate. The slid ing clamp-plate C is provided with a thickened clamp-j aw D at one end, which is serrated or roughened on itslowerface, as indicated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, to provide a gripping-surface for taking a firm hold on the material which is to be held between the said jaw and the opposing jaw. At a point intermediate of its ends this sliding clamp-plate O is provided at its opposite edges with the downwardlyprojecting ears or lugs 0 with which overlap the corresponding upwardlyprojecting ears or lugs f, extending upward from the opposite side edges of the pivoted clamp-plate F, intermediate of the ends thereof. A pivotpin f passes through the overlapping ears and f, and serves to hinge the two clamping plates together, and a spring G is coiled on the pivot-pin f to provide for norm ally pressing the inner ends of the clamp-plates apart, so as to normally force the gripping ends or jaws of said plates firmly together to provide forholding the material placed therebetween. The ends of the wire forming the spring G are extended rearward of the pivot-pinf', and are bent slightly toward each other, so that one end presses upon the lower face of the sliding clamp-plate C and the other end bears against the upper face of the clamp-plate F, this being the most effectual and desirable way of arranging the spring to secure the desired results.

The pivoted clamp-plate F is curved downward at its inner end to form a thumb-piece, and at its outer end the said plate is pro vided with a thickened and widened clampjaw E, having a serrated or roughened upper face opposing the serrated or rou hened lower face of the clamp-jaw D of the sliding plate The opposing jaws D and E are the parts of the attachment that are designed to firmly clamp the material therebetween.

In connection with the attachment it is designed to employ an invertedU-shaped bracket H, which depends from opposite side edges of the sliding clamp-plate O in rear of the jaw D, and loosely embraces the pivoted clamp-plate F in front of the pivot-pin f. The lower horizontal side of the depending U shaped bracket H has mounted therein the thumb=screw h, which is adapted to work against the lower side of the clamp-plate F at one side of its pivot to provide for entirely closing the jaws of the clamp together in the event of the tension of the spring being insufficient to produce a sufficient grip upon the material, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In using the attachment it is simply necessary to grasp the thumb-piece of the plate F and pull outward on the same, which movement will cause the plate 0 to slide in a forward direction, thereby bringing the clamping-jaws to a position projected beyond the front edge of the table, in which position the goods or material being operated upon by the machine can be drawn between and held by said jaws, so as to leave the hands of the operator free to manipulate the goods on top of the table, which is a very desirable feature in certain classes of sewing, such as basting and the like. \Vhen not in use, after releasing the goods from the clamping-jaws, it is simply necessary to push inward on the said jaws to shove the entire clamping attachment under the front edge of the table and entirely out of the way.

\Vhat is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for sewing-machine tables, comprising a base-plate adapted to be fastened to the under side of the table adjacent to its front edge, a claiii rplate mounted to slide flatly on said base-plate and provided with a pair of separated longitudinally disposed and alined slots, and at one end with a jaw adapted to be projected to a position beyond the front edge of the table and also to be adjusted to a position entirely under the table, screws passed through said slots and into the baseplate, and a pivoted clamp-plate having a hinge connection with the sliding clamp-plate and provided at one end with a jaw opposed to and normally pressing against the jaw of said sliding clamp-plate and at its opposite end with a downwardly curved thumb-piece, substantially as set forth.

2. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for sewing-machine tables, comprising a clamp adapted to be slidably mounted on the under side of the table adjacent to its front edge and essentially consisting of a sliding clamp-plate, and a pivoted clamp-plate hinged to the former, a depending U-shaped bracket depending from the opposite side edges of' the sliding clamp-plate and loosely embracing the pivoted clamp-plate at one side of its pivot, and a set-serew mounted in the lower side of the bracket and adapted to bear against the under side of the pivoted clam pplate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS IVIESER. Vitnesses HENRY H. DOUBLEDAY,

CHARLES L. DU Bors. 

